Gulf News

Visa services at Amer centres for small firms

CENTRES WILL ALSO PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES OF OTHER GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIO­NS

- DUBAI BY ALI AL SHOUK Staff Reporter

Companies with less than 100 employees need not register in the electronic system |

Companies with less than 100 employees can now complete their visa transactio­ns through Amer centres, the General Directorat­e of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) announced on Saturday.

With opening of 23 Amer centres for visa transactio­ns, small companies can apply for their transactio­ns through Amer centres without the need to register in the electronic systems.

“All Amer centres now accept visa transactio­ns for companies with 100 employees or less. It will help reduce the cost on the companies by about Dh2,000 to Dh4,000. It is a step to keep Dubai as an encouragin­g and promising environmen­t for investors,” said Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, director-general of the GDRFA.

The directorat­e stopped visa-related services at hundreds of typing centres and alternativ­ely provided the facilities at Amer centres, which will be 70 in number by the end of the year.

The centres simplify transactio­ns and increase efficiency by allowing residents to complete all visa and residency transactio­ns without having to visit the directorat­e.

Brigadier Hussain Ibrahim, assistant general manager of residency support sector in GDRFA Dubai, said the small companies can apply for their visa transactio­ns through the 23 Amer centres across Dubai.

“Companies have the option now to apply through Amer centres. This step will support the investors who have small number of employees. It is a step also to encourage the Emirati investors who own and run Amer centres,” Brigadier Ibrahim said.

According to official figures, Amer centres had 414,633 visa transactio­ns in the first quarter of 2018.

These centres will also provide a range of services and transactio­ns of a number of other government institutio­ns and department­s in Dubai, including the Emirates Identity Authority, Dubai Municipali­ty and Dubai Health Authority.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates